Phenomenon Observed at the Onset of Micellization Using Static Light Scattering

Abstract

A phenomenon was observed near the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of surfactants using static light scattering. This consists of an unexpected peak in light scattering as the concentration varies between zero and above the cmc. This work studied three different surfactants: the two ionic surfactants hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100. Peaks were observed for all three under different conditions such as varying ionic strengths and different concentration paths. These peaks are real, are reproducible, and appear to have static properties.

Adsorption of surfactant micelles and Cd2+/Zn2+ in micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration

“…2). Although it is usually assumed that surfactant molecules change from monomers to micelles at the CMC, static light scattering measurements showed that surfactant micelles were present below the CMC in the SDS solution [33]. The presence of Cd 2+ /Zn 2+ enhanced the surface activity of DS − , which resulted in a lowering of the CMC.…”

Rapid and quantitative determination of critical micelle concentration by automatic continuous mixing and static light scattering

“…The residence time is an adequate performance measurement for the mixed flow chamber and provides quantitative information about the perfect stirring, e.g., that there are no spatial gradients such as concentration, temperature, chemical potential in our continuously stirred mixing chamber. Sorci et al [25] recently observed a phenomenon near the cmc of surfactants using static light scattering with a recirculation method for the ACM technique. The solution was recirculated back into a beaker on a stir plate.…”

A molecular dynamics investigation of structure and dynamics of SDS and SDBS micelles

“…For over a hundred years, surfactants have been exploited in industrial processes such as detergency, lubrication, corrosion, colloid stabilization, drug-delivery, etc. [1][2][3] Surfactants have been extensively studied in order to determine the nature of their organized structure and the associated dynamics using a variety of experimental techniques that ranged from NMR, [4][5][6] to EPR, 6,7 light scattering, 8,9 small angle neutron scattering [10][11][12] and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. 13,14 A central topic in their chemistry is the understanding of the physical properties of micelles, both from the perspective of organized assemblies and for their use as solvating agents.…”